Weak signals to watch

Attendees at the 2016 Fall Educational Forum learned the importance of identifying and tracking "weak signals," which function as early warning signals of change. Throughout the Forum, presenters and attendees cultivated a list of possible weak signals to watch over the next few years, including:

Difficulty recruiting new staff to pools and public entities

New cyber security threats related to blockchain and crypto currencies - and, specifically, interruption to public entity operations as a result

Poverty pockets within communities

Wrongful incarceration claims

Solvency II

Negative interest rates

Claims under the Fair Housing Act

Negative perception of local government credibility and impacts on community engagement

Continued increase in digital transactions

Augmented reality

Legalized recreational marijuana

Increasing severity and frequency of storms, droughts, and other climate events

Wearable technology

Licensing and certification requirements for public employees

Insurance companies buying pools

Pools are encouraged to monitor these issues and continue building familiarity to address them, should they become more prominent or urgent.